Fence-post.



No. 779,057, PATENTED JAN.3,1905. G. L. TURNER.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1904.

Witnesses Inelutor.

ha I I,

I Attorney Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEicE.

GEORGE L. TURNER, OF MONROE CITY, MISSOURI.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,057, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed Septembei 15, 1904. Serial No. 224,607.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monroe City, in the county of Monroe and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence-posts of the type known as sheet-metal posts, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character adapted for use in connection with the various classes of Wood or wire fences now in general use and one which when erected will be firmly and securely anchored in the ground and free from liability of being displaced owing to the action of frost or from other causes.

A further object of the invention is to provide for readily and firmly securing the same in erected position upon an appropriate supporting-base and without embedding its lower end in the ground.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features 'of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fence,

showing the improved post applied for use. Fig. 2 is a view showing a post attached to a supporting-base. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in vertical elevation, of a post, showing wooden rails attached thereto. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the post of tubular form and preferably composed of sheet metal rolled or otherwise bent into shape, and 2' the base or anchoring member of the post, preferably consisting of a sheet-metal disk of appropriate form and proportions, brazed or otherwise firmly united with the normally lower end of the post, the base having a central opening designed to register with the end of thetubular body, whereby the lower end of the latter will remain wholly open and unobstructed.

Struck from and angularly bent relative to the body portion of the post is a laterallyprojecting longitudinally-disposed portion or flange 3, in which is formed a series of wirereceiving openings or perforations 4,arranged in pairs, as shown, there being formed between each pair of openings a centrally-disposed entrance opening or slot 5, while through the base 2 there is formed at spaced intervals and marginally therearound a plurality of openings or perforations 6. The post has formed transversely therethrough and at diametrically opposite points in its walls a series of perforations 7, arranged in vertical spaced relation, and, further,with a plurality of elongated transverse openings or slots 8. spaced vertically one above another, the perforations 7 being for the reception of horizontal wires when the post is used at points intermediate the ends of a fence course or for the reception of nails or other fastening devices by which Wooden slats or rails may be attached to the post, in which instance the fastening devices will engage wooden filling members or blocks 9, seated in the interior of the tubular body, while the elongated openings 8 are for the reception of the top and bottom horizontal rails of a picket-fence or to receive the ends of braces for firmly supporting the post in position.

In practice the lower end of the post may be embedded in the ground, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in which event it will be securely anchored in place and prevented from tilting laterally or being displaced upwardly by means of the base or anchoring member 2, especial attention being directed to the fact that owing to the lower end of the post being wholly open the soil may in expanding under the action of freezing enter freely into the post, thereby largely relieving lifting-pressure upon the latter and minimizing if not wholly obviating lifting of the post from the ground during freezing of the latter. In some instances,and, in fact, when desirable, the post may be attached to a wooden or other supporting base 10, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of fastening devices 11, entered through the perforations 6 in the base member 2. The posts having been erected in accordance with either mode just described, the fencing material of any of the classes now commonly employed may be attached to the post, as heretofore ex- .plained.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there is produced a simple inexpensive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in View and one which in practice will be strong and durable and susceptible of a wide range of applications, it being understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, the present invention produces an improved article of manufacture which is capable of use to support fence-wires run through the perforations 7 or engaged with the seats.

4: of the flange 3, while it is also capable of use in connection with a fence having wooden rails, it being proposed to support the rails in the seats or openings 8, which arrangement will be readily understood although not illustrated in thedrawings, or the wooden rails may be connected as shown in Fig. 3. When the openings 8 are not employed for receiving wooden rails, one or more of said openings may be employed to receive the upper end of an inclined brace, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will thus be understood that it is proposed to embody the present invention in the nature of a complete article which is capable of use in connection with a wire fence and also with a fence employing wooden rails, provision being made for the convenient reception of either runner-wires or wooden rails, and the post also being constructed so as to be conveniently braced whenever required. v

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A tubular metallic fence-post having a longitudinal portion bent therefrom to form an upstanding flange which is provided with a vertical series of perforations divided into pairs, each pair of perforations being connected by a vertical slot, and each vertical slot being intersected by a transverse slot which also intersects the outer edge of the flange.

2. A fence-post provided with a longitudinal flange having a vertical series of perforations which are divided into pairs, each pair of perforations being connected by a vertical slot, and each vertical slot being intersected by a transverse slot which also intersects the outer edge of the post.

3. A fence-post provided with a longitudinal flange having a vertical series of perforations and transverse slots intersecting the outer edge of the flange and communicating with the respective perforations at one side of their transverse middles.

4c. Atubular metallic post having a longitudinal portion bent outwardly to form an upstanding flange which is provided with wirereceiving seats.

5. A tubular metallic fence-post having a longitudinal portion bent outwardly to form an upstanding flange which is provided with wire-receiving seats intersecting the outer edge of the flange.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a tubular metallic fence-post having a longitudinal portion bent outwardly to form an upstanding flange which is provided with wire-receiving seats, there also being upper and lower pairs of diametrically opposite slots formed in the post at opposite sides of the flange.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a tubular metallic fence-post having a longitudinal portion bent outwardly to form an upright flange which is provided with wire-receiving seats, there also being a slot formed in the post at one side of the flange for the reception of a brace.

8. The combination of a tubular metallic fence-post having a longitudinal portion bent outwardly to form an upstanding flange which is provided with wire-receiving seats, there being an opening formed in the post adjacent its upper end and located at one side of the flange, an inclined brace member having its upper end received within the opening in the post, and fence-wires received within the wirereceiving seats of the flange.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. TURNER.

Witnesses RoBT. MERIWETHER, EUGENE MITCHELL. 

